Senior Companies Finance Manager

Location: Leeds, London

About the job

The Companies Sponsorship Team operates across DHSC's London and Leeds offices and is responsible for overseeing the department's portfolio of government-owned companies. The team provides strategic, financial and governance oversight, ensuring these organisations are well governed, financially sustainable, deliver value for money, and align with departmental priorities. This role works autonomously within a supportive and collaborative team environment, providing commercial and financial leadership across a varied portfolio of sponsorship, governance and corporate projects. There is scope to tailor aspects of the role to reflect the skills, interests and experience of the successful candidate.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Companies Sponsorship Team contributing to the department's oversight of government-owned companies and supporting the delivery of complex transformation programmes. The role offers exposure to senior stakeholders across government and the opportunity to influence key decisions that support the effective management and performance of organisations delivering key public objectives.

In the Department of Health and Social Care, we are proud of our purpose - to enable everyone to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. To achieve this, and create a great place to work, we have four values: we are inclusive, we constantly improve, we challenge, and we are agile. If this sounds like an environment you would like to work in, we would love to hear from you.

Job description

You will provide strategic financial leadership and shareholder oversight across the department's portfolio of government-owned companies and commercial projects. Acting as a senior representative of the Secretary of State as shareholder, you will play a key role in safeguarding public value, ensuring effective corporate governance, and supporting the successful delivery of company objectives. Working closely with Chairs, Non-Executive Directors, Chief Executives and Chief Financial Officers, you will build strong and influential relationships across the portfolio. You will lead the analysis of complex board and committee papers, advising shareholder representatives and senior departmental leaders on strategic decisions, financial performance, governance risks, investment opportunities and matters of public accountability. This is a high-profile role requiring strong commercial judgement, strategic financial leadership and the ability to operate confidently at Board level whilst balancing shareholder interests, fiduciary obligations and wider government objectives.

For candidates that hold a full Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) or equivalent qualification will be eligible for an annual market pay supplement of £5,000.

Person specification

• Act as the Department's senior shareholder representative across a portfolio of government-owned companies, providing strategic oversight and ensuring effective stewardship of public assets and investments.
• Support and advise DHSC-appointed shareholder and Non-Executive Directors in discharging their fiduciary duties, providing robust analysis of board papers and strategic decisions, and ensuring appropriate consideration of financial, governance and reputational risks.
• Lead departmental engagement with company Boards and Board Committees, influencing strategic direction whilst maintaining clear accountability for performance, governance and value for money.
• Represent the shareholder interest on Audit, Finance and Risk Committees, providing expert challenge and assurance on financial reporting, internal controls, risk management, accounting treatments and commercial matters.
• Lead the assessment and challenge of corporate strategies, business plans, budgets and long-term financial forecasts, ensuring organisations remain financially sustainable and aligned to departmental objectives.
• Oversee shareholder governance arrangements, ensuring compliance with Managing Public Money, HM Treasury guidance, Companies Act requirements, Framework Agreements and wider government corporate governance standards.
• Provide expert financial, commercial and governance advice to senior departmental leaders, directors and ministers on issues relating to company performance, corporate transactions, strategic investments and organisational change.
• Commission and oversee financial and commercial due diligence for significant investment decisions, business cases, corporate restructures and major transactions involving government-owned companies.
• Develop high-quality advice, ministerial submissions and briefing to support decisions on complex and sensitive issues affecting the departmental company portfolio.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with senior stakeholders across government, regulators, advisors and portfolio companies, acting as a trusted strategic adviser on company finance and governance matters.
• Provide leadership and professional expertise within the Companies Sponsorship Team, contributing to the development of shareholder governance, financial oversight and best practice across the portfolio.

Key skills and experience required for the role

Essential:

• Fully qualified member of a recognised CCAB or CIMA accounting body (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent), with significant post-qualification experience in a senior finance, corporate governance, shareholder or commercial finance role.
• Substantial experience providing strategic financial leadership and challenge at Board, Audit and Risk Committee, or equivalent senior governance forums, influencing executive and non-executive stakeholders on complex financial matters.
• Strong understanding of corporate governance, fiduciary responsibilities, shareholder oversight and public sector accountability frameworks, with experience balancing financial, commercial and strategic considerations within a complex environment.
• Experience leading complex financial analysis and assurance activity, including business planning, financial forecasting, investment appraisal, valuation, due diligence, risk assessment to support senior decision-making.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and influencing skills, with a proven ability to build trusted relationships and provide clear, evidence-based advice to senior leaders on complex or sensitive issues.

Desirable:

• Experience acting as a shareholder representative, sponsor team lead, company secretary, board adviser or equivalent role within a government-owned company, public body or regulated organisation.
• Knowledge of government financial frameworks, including Managing Public Money, HM Treasury guidance, Corporate Governance in Central Government Departments and public sector accounting requirements.
• Understanding of the health, care, life sciences or wider public services landscape and the governance challenges associated with government-owned companies.

Qualifications

Fully qualified member of a recognised CCAB or CIMA accounting body (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent).

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service